Curved shower rod mounting system

ABSTRACT

A shower curtain mount has a bracket having a plate for attaching to a surface and a post having a first shaped indentation in an outer surface thereof; an escutcheon covering the plate and having a tube projecting therefrom, the tube encircling the post and maintaining the tube a distance from the post; and, a shower rod having an end portion having second shaped indentation that mates with the first shaped indentation whereby the shower rod is disposed around the post within the distance between the hollow tube and the post.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed to a shaped shower curtain rod and more particularly to an apparatus for mounting a shaped shower rod to a shower wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

In the construction of most bathrooms, it is common to position a shower nozzle mounted on the wall of an enclosure above a tub or shower basin. Water splashing out of the enclosure is limited by the use of a shower curtain that also defines the enclosure. The shower curtain is ordinarily arranged to drape loosely from a set of eyelets or curtain rings that slide along the curtain rod at the height of the showerhead or nozzle.

The shower curtain is draped in the bathtub below so that water is not splashed out of the tub and water hitting the curtain is directed into the tub. Because some tubs are elliptical and because bathers demand more elbowroom in their baths, curtain rods have evolved into shapes that mimic the shape of the tubs and to give bathers more elbow room.

SUMMARY

According to a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a shower curtain mounting apparatus has a bracket including a plate for attaching to a surface and a post having a first shaped indentation in an outer surface thereof; an escutcheon covering the plate and having a tube projecting therefrom, the tube encircling the post and maintaining the tube a distance from the post; and, a shower rod having an end portion having second shaped indentation that mates with the first shaped indentation whereby the shower rod is disposed around the post within the distance between the hollow tube and the post.

Because the indentations mate and the shower rod does not rotate relative to the mounting bracket, set screws that are intended to prevent rod rotation, but tend to loosen and allow rotation, are eliminated. Because the escutcheon encloses the shower rod and the bracket, a decorative look is provided for consumers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of an embodiment of a shower rod.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the shower rod and bracket of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a blown-up side view of the shower rod of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a shower rod 10 disposed over a shower/tub 15 is shown. The shower rod 10 is mounted by a pair of brackets 20 to a pair of walls 25 (e.g., surfaces). The shower rod 10 has a major shaped portion 30 and, at each end 35 thereof, a relatively straightened portion that mates with the brackets 20 as will be described hereinbelow. A curtain 40 depends from shower rod 10 via rings 45.

The shower/tub is also defined by a back wall 50 that joins the walls 25. A shower inlet tube 55 joins to a shower head 60 in a manner that is known in the art. The shower head 60 is disposed below a top 65 of the shower curtain to ensure that water deflected by a bather (not shown) or directed by the shower head 60 falls against the curtain to be directed into the shower/tub 15 as opposed to out of the shower/tub 15.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the bracket 20 is shown with more particularity. The bracket 20 has a support 65, and an escutcheon 70. The support 65 has a plate 75 and a transversely extending post 80. The transversely extending post 80 has a v-shaped groove 85 disposed in a top portion 90 thereof and a base 95 having a shoulder 100 for receiving a spacer such as o-ring 105 as will be discussed herein. The base 95 attaches to the plate 75 and extends to the groove 85. The plate 75 has a pair of openings 110 that receive a screw 115 for mounting into or through the wall 25 (see FIG. 2) via a molly 118 disposed in the drywall or the like. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the screw 115 and molly 118 may be replaced by a dry wall screw 119 or a similar attachment means. The plate 75 has an exterior rim 120. The post has a chamfered surface 122 to enable the shower rod 10 to slip over the post 80

The escutcheon 70 has a decorative body 125 having edges 130 that forms an interference fit over the exterior rim 120 of the plate 75. Though the decorative body 125 and plate 75 are roughly rectangular with rounded ends, other shapes are contemplated herein. The decorative body 125 attaches to a transversely extending hollow tube 130 that has an inner diameter D that is greater than the outer diameter D′ of the post 80 and the diameter D″ of the shower rod 10. However the diameter D″ of the shower rod 10 is greater than the diameter D′ of the post 80. Given the diameters D, D′, D″, the post 80 fits within the hollow tube 130 and the shower rod 10 fits over the post 80 and within the hollow tube 130. The hollow tube 130 may be attached to the decorative body 125 by any suitable means such as brazing or the like. Referring to FIG. 2, the shower rod 10 has, at an outer upper end portion 132 thereof, a v-shaped indentation 135 that mates with the v-shaped groove 85 in the post 80.

To attach the shower rod 10 to the bracket 20, the plate 75 is fixed to the wall 25 at a level above the shower head 60. The decorative body 125 of the escutcheon 70 is inserted over the plate 75 such that the post 80 extends through the hollow tube 130. The hollow tube 130 engages the o-ring 105 on the post 80 to create a seal therebetween and to ensure a spaced relationship between the hollow tube 130 and the post 80 into which the shower rod 10 fits. The edge of the escutcheon 70 mates with the rim 120 of the plate.

The shower rod 10 is flexed slightly to enable its ends 35 to be inserted over the post 80 and within the hollow tube 130. The v-shaped indentation 135 of the shower rod 10 mates with the v-shaped groove 85 in the post 80 to prevent the shower rod 10 from rotating relative to the post 80. No set screws (not shown) are required. Though a v-shaped indentation 135 mating with a v-shaped groove 85 is shown, other mating shapes that prevent relative rotation between the post 80 and the shower rod 10 are contemplated herein. The escutcheon 70 ensures that the bracket 20 will have a decorative look while the plate 75 and post 80 securely hold the shower rod 10 against rotation.

It should be understood that like reference numerals identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several drawings. It should also be understood that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements will benefit herefrom.

The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Various non-limiting embodiments are disclosed herein, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that various modifications and variations in light of the above teachings will fall within the scope of the appended claims. For instance, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other designs such as objects, abstracts, architectural features may be substituted for the designs shown herein. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. For that reason the appended claims should be studied to determine true scope and content. 

1. A shower curtain mounting apparatus, said shower curtain mounting apparatus comprising: a bracket having; a plate for attaching to a surface and a post having a first shaped indentation in an outer surface thereof, an escutcheon covering said plate and having a tube projecting therefrom, said tube encircling said post and maintaining said tube a distance from said post and a shower rod having an end portion having second shaped indentation that mates with said first shaped indentation whereby said shower rod is disposed around said post within said distance between said hollow tube and said post.
 2. The shower curtain mounting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a spacer disposed between said hollow tube and said post to maintain said distance between said hollow tube and said post.
 3. The shower curtain mounting apparatus of claim 2 wherein said spacer is an o-ring.
 4. The shower curtain mounting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said post further comprises a chamfered surface for receiving said shower rod.
 5. The shower curtain mounting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said surface is a wall.
 6. The shower curtain mounting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hollow tube. 